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[[trash:Turkey]]
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Some drivers might ask you for a few Lira, and if you are not willing to contribute to the cost of the ride, please learn to say ''Param yok'' (I have no money) before getting in the car.
Having a [[Signs|signboard]] (together with the thumb extended) certainly helps, since most Turkish hitchhikers don't use one and therefore it draws much more attention from drivers un-used to seeing signboards. Writing the name of first town on your route—no route—no matter how small it is—and is—and the name of a farther and bigger city is good.
Also while waiting for a lift, have your backpack on the ground ''in front of'' your feet, in a position that is easily visible and recognizable as a backpack by passing by drivers. As many will admit, seeing a large backpack and camping gear such as a mat always makes Turkish drivers more comfortable with the idea of letting a stranger in their car—since it kind of proves that you are travelling on budget, not a serial killer—and thus enabling you to get lifts far more quickly.
== Safety ==
Following the [[Pippa|recent events]] in April 2008, this [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.com/2008/04/hitchhiking-guide-to-turkey-for-girls.html hitchhiking guide to Turkey for girls] might be an interesting piece to read for everyone (not only for girls) who's planning to hitchhike in Turkey. Safety is always important while hitchhiking, so check the [[Hitchhiker's safety|Safety]] article before going out to wave your thumb!
===Women hitchhiking in Turkey===
A personal story:
=== Hitchhiking buses ===
While waiting beside the road, town-to-town minibus drivers (which can be recognized by banners proclaiming town names all over) and intercity buses will flash their headlights or honk at you — — to ask whether you'd like a ride (for a fee, of course). Don't be afraid to stop them and say "''Param yok'' (which literally translates "I don't have money"), it's ok?". A couple of hitchhikers did this when a bus stopped beside them to drop a passanger, and then they kept doing this everytime, and about 30% of the buses gave them a ride. Inside the cities, it's even easier; ask them politely and they will take you a bit further ahead.
== Food ==
== Sleep ==
[[Finding accommodation|Hospitality exchange]] networks have many friendly members in Turkey, and they can help you with an accommodation.
All towns in Turkey have an ''OtoGar'', a bus terminal. Most of these offer a warm and fairly safe place to spend a night. Nonetheless, be careful and try to place your luggage in such a way so that you are surely to be awaken in case if someone tries to take your things.
Many truck drivers will have an extra bunk in their truck cabin, and they are usually happy to offer it to a hitchhiker.
Wild camping is pretty much possible, OK, and legal except in large urban agglomerations. Just be discreet, away from sight of houses and roads. Private property such as farmland and oliveyards are technically off the limits, however if you arrive late, break the camp early, and leave no trace of your stay (including removing any trash and not damaging any crops), it is no problem at all to camp at those places. Beware of fires, though, as most of Turkey lies in Mediterranean climatic zone which is very arid in summer, most of country's terrain is naturally covered with dry grasses in summer months. So while wild camping, try to avoid the temptation to build campfires; even cigarette butts that are not properly distinguished and disposed of can result in damages that you can't even dream of. Another thing to take note of while camping is the scorpions (''akrep'' in Turkish), especially in southern Mediterranean coast and in [[Southeastern Anatolia|southeastern part]] of the country—keep the zip of your tent and backpack always locked, check and shake your shoes before putting them on.
== Cities and License plates ==
* 48 [[Muğla]]
* 49 [[Muş]]
* 50 [[Nevsehir|Nevşehir]]
* 51 [[Niğde]]
* 52 [[Ordu]]
* 53 [[Rize]]
* 54 [[Adapazari|Sakarya]]
</td><td>
* 55 [[Samsun]]
* 61 [[Trabzon]]
* 62 [[Tunceli]]
* 63 [[Urfa|Şanlıurfa]]
* 64 [[Uşak]]
* 65 [[Van]]
* 71 [[Kırıkkale]]
* 72 [[Batman]]
* 73 [[Sirnak|Şırnak]]
* 74 [[Bartın]]
* 75 [[Ardahan]]
While in general it is fairly easy to attract a lift in Turkey, locals' view of hitchhikers vary across the country. In general, people in northern and inland regions of the country are friendlier towards hitchhikers. If put systematically, the level of ease to get a lift in various regions of the country is as follows in general, from easiest to hardest:
:[[Southeastern Anatolia]] (usually the first car passing by offering a lift) > North coast (Black Sea Region) (one in every ten cars offering a lift) > Northwest/European Turkey (Thrace) (most waits not exceeding 5 mins) > Inland steppes (Central Anatolia, longest waits likely ~20 mins) > Northwest/Asian Marmara (South Marmara) > Aegean Region > Southwest coast (Lycia) > Rest of Mediterranean coast (expect waits up to two hours!), with eastern mountains (Eastern Anatolia) perhaps falling somewhere between Central Anatolia and South Marmara.
As can be clearly seen, less touristy somewhere is, easier to attract a lift there. That being said, however, there are of course helpful drivers on the highways of the south, too, although they seem to be exceptions rather than the rule.
* [[Antalya (Province)]]* [[Çanakkale (Province)]]* [[Cappadocia]]* [[Muğla (Province)]]* [[Southeastern Anatolia]] == Links ==
* [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.com/2008/04/hitchhiking-guide-to-turkey-for-girls.html Hitchhiking Guide to Turkey for girls]
* [http://abgefahren.hitchbase.com/DE/blogs/alex/20090213/just-hitching-rides-journey-eid-christmas Just hitching rides: A journey from Eid to Christmas] (Hitchhiking from Yemen to Germany), abgefahren Blogs
[[wikipedia:Turkey]]
{{IsIn|Western Asia}}
[[trash:Turkey]]
[[Category:Southeastern Anatolia|southeastern part]]
[[Category:Southeastern Anatolia|Southeastern Anatolia]]
[[Category:Antalya (Province)|Antalya (Province)]]
[[Category:Çanakkale (Province)|Çanakkale (Province)]]
[[Category:Muğla (Province)|Muğla (Province)]]
[[Category:Southeastern Anatolia|Southeastern Anatolia]]
[[Category:Turkey| ]]
[[Category:Western Asia]]
[[fr:Turquie]]
[[tr:Türkiye]]
